Blues To Host Wambach

Blues Soccer Club News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com

Thursday, July 5, 2012

FULLERTON, CA – The Blues are proud to announce U.S. Women’s National Team star Abby Wambach will be at Fullerton’s Titan Stadium on Sunday, July 8, for an Olympic send-off ceremony before heading to London for the 2012 Olympic Games. Fans will be able to see the Pali Blues take on the Rapids Women at noon PT followed by the LA Blues encounter against Orlando City at 5 p.m. PT.

For $10, fans will be able to see the Pali Blues (10-0-1) take on the Colorado Rapids Women (4-3-2), with the send-off ceremony being held for Wambach at halftime or after the match. The Pali game will be followed by the LA Blues' clash against defending champion and current league leader Orlando City at 5 p.m. PT.

Wambach is one of the biggest stars in the history of women’s soccer, having found the net more than 140 times in nearly 200 appearances with the U.S. Women's National Team. Additionally, Wambach has scored in three consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup finals. The 32-year-old is the all-time leading goal-scorer in World Cup finals for the United States with 13 tallies, which puts her in second place in the history of the women's soccer behind Brazil’s Marta and Germany’s Birgit Prinz (14 goals). Wambach has won U.S. Soccer's Female Athlete of the Year award five times.

In 2003, the native of Rochester, New York, was named to the FIFA Women’s World Cup roster and helped the team to a third place finish, earning her first U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award in the process. The following year, she enjoyed an outstanding Olympics that included the game-winner against Brazil in stoppage time of the gold medal match and saw her earn her second U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year award. Wambach finished fourth in the voting for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, a feat that she was able to repeat in 2006.

In 2007, Wambach was once again named to the U.S. Women’s World Cup roster and became one of the biggest stars of the tournament when her six goals in six matches led the U.S. to a third place finish finish. The then 27-year-old earned yet another U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year Award adding to her collection.

After being recognized with the prestigious honor for the fourth time in 2010, the legendary striker once again played in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011 and created one of the most memorable moments in the history of the game when her header in the final minute of overtime saw the United States tie Brazil and advance to the semifinals on penalty kicks.

While the U.S. would finish as runner-up in the tournament, Wambach’s dramatic goal would later be recognized with the 2011 ESPY award for the Best Play of the Year. In addition, her four tallies over the course of the tournament earned her the FIFA Women’s World Cup Bronze Boot as well as recognition as the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year.

With the 2012 Olympic Games around the corner and Wambach having missed the 2008 edition due to injury, her mission is to use her goal-scoring magic in London, England, in July and August to help the U.S. Women to their third consecutive gold medal.